Today's silicon-based semiconductor technology forms the basis of all modern electronics, such as PCs, laptops, tablets, phones and sensors. But the technology is running up against fundamental limits and the steady progress expressed by Moore's law is starting to reach its end. In order to achieve much faster and more economical computing in the future, entirely new materials and concepts will have to be explored, based for instance on the so-called spin of electrons, the architecture of the brain or on manipulating light.
Connecting character
The fundamental challenges are mainly in the field of new material concepts and properties such as discovering, understanding and making new molecular, organic materials and ultra-thin, two-dimensional materials such as graphene with the desired optical and electronic properties. Internationally, the Netherlands is at the forefront of science in the required research areas of fundamental physics and chemistry. Applied research is needed to make these materials in such a way that industrial production becomes possible. Basic research is also needed to integrate new functionalities in terms of optical, magnetic, chemical and electronic properties at the nanoscale with current semiconductor technology. With the new materials and techniques, all kinds of new devices can be designed and developed (e.g. also bionic implants), as was done earlier in microelectronics. Applied research is needed to develop measurement techniques to study the shape and chemical, electronic or optical properties of those ultra-small structures on an atomic scale. Moreover, knowledge is needed for manufacturing at the nanoscale. This will lead not only to new products that address societal problems, but also to new tools and machines, which mean a new generation of products for existing and new industrial companies. In this field, several well-run public-private collaborations have emerged over the last decade. This network provides a good starting point to further shape innovation and also involve SMEs.
